Should Americans over Fifty Try to Avoid Alzheimer’s Disease? — A Positive View

Alzheimer’s versus heart disease — A recent Harris poll notes that over half of us now fear the former more than the latter. Coming closer to home, everyone I’ve raised the issue with so far picks Alzheimer’s right away and, even more impressive, quickly comes up with a couple of personal reasons to explain exactly why such a choice makes scientific and emotional sense. Fear calls for hope, along with action. This is why I’m making the first two chapters of my anti-Alzheimer’s tool kit available to readers who want some up front reassurance. As will be apparent later on, the book as a whole draws heavily upon articles I’ve written during the past three years for the online daily Education News. These can be handily click-accessed, incidentally via www.ednews.org/authors/129/oliphant As also noted by the Harris Poll, 30% of us have already encountered Alzheimer’s in our family. That includes me, and that is why I want for my friends and my children a take on this issue more positive than “mean gene” theories (deftly skewed in Michael Crichton’s new novel “Next!”) taking graphic shape like a Jackson Pollock painting on a meaningless video screen (as in the film “Iris”) accompanied by a pompous voice telling Iris Murdoch’s family, “IT will win.” Two chapters. . . . Six thousand words. . . . No charts, not many stats, and mostly plain talk like this short intro. . . . So take a quick look at what’s here. . . . If it works for you.... or might for someone you care about.... that’s marvelous. . . . If not, thanks for throwing the dice. . . . And best wishes, no matter how old you are, for our new year and those that will follow. . . . . . . .